IGN: 9 Page GTA IV Feature + 5 New Screenshots

Why is this the first true sequel to GTA III? How do you make a multiplayer component that still feels as free and open as the single-player of GTA? And what's Rockstar's take on downloadable content? IGN spoke with VP of Creative, Dan Houser and Rockstar North Art Director Aaron Garbut to get the answers.

I think Houser indicates that the Xbox 360 epsisodic DLC will not be another set of level(s):

" Houser: Oh yeah... In general, if it's a very tight story game, as opposed to an open world game, there's often nothing you can really add. Add an extra level. Why? It's done. It's a story. With an open world game there's a little more maneuverability there, but we're super conscious that we want the games to be treated as serious medium. We take it very seriously. We love what we do. It's up to you guys to say if it's art or not. We try really hard. We're not in it just to go, "Here's an extra way of making a dollar." That's going to make all the people who already spent $60, half of them feel redundant. If there's anything that we're selling, we want it to be useful for people.

The game that you buy on the disc is the game. The extra stuff doesn't exist yet, but it exists in our heads... It's cool stuff. It doesn't undermine the individual game."

I dont think the 360 guys are gonna like the sound of that!

EDIT - By the way Houser clearly states that BOTH versions are looking good, so stop all this nonesense about which version is better. There was NO lead platform or SKU either, both the PS3 and 360 versions of the game were made at the same time exactly. There was NO porting the game from one console to another. Also both versions also had problems during development. To shut up any fanboy:

" Houser: There have been challenges with both systems. Now we're at the point where it's is looking great on both. So we feel pretty pleased about the decision. We've never done simultaneous releases before off the lead SKU. We've done like the PC and the Xbox at the same time and other things like that... It is a challenge for the technical guys on the team (which is thankfully not me -- or thankfully them). [laughter]

It's definitely a challenge keeping that stuff in line, but I think we're now at the point where it was the right decision. We're pleased about that approach. It's not like we made any significant compromises to either version by doing them. Which was always the thing we were nervous about doing in the past, that one would feel very dumbed down or that one would feel like it could've pushed the machine a little harder. We think we've pushed both machines very, very hard compared to what other people are able to do at this point in time."

I'm sure these were the most interesting parts everyone here wants to read. Dont get angry at me, I'm just the messenger!

Houser: The game that you buy on the disc is the game. The extra stuff doesn't exist yet, but it exists in our heads... It's cool stuff. It doesn't undermine the individual game.

IGN: There's already a lot there for your $60.

Houser: The multiplayer game alone is a huge thing. The single-player game is enormous and other stuff you can, if you want to explore in the world, there's a $#[email protected] of stuff there as well... There seems to be this weird idea that single-player games can get shorter. They can get more expensive and shorter. I don't understand that approach. It's not our approach.

... and not do a single mission, just having lots and lots of fun with car-chases, shoot-outs, sniping, etc etc... ;) That's what's so great about GTA. You can play and have fun for 10 minutes, or you can play and have fun for 4 hours, and you will still be absolutely free to do whatever you like.

... will most likely be a new main character with his own story-arc, set in Liberty City. He'll have his own story, his own new friends and villains, maybe they'll also add a few new vehicles etc, and new indoor settings, and all that kinda stuff.

Possibly if the new character is chinese/asian (immigrant again), they'll also have new fighting moves for him, and ofcourse different outfits and a different phone than Nico has, etc.

I think that's the most logical idea for the DLC episodic content: offer a whole new experience with story, main character, etc... while using the existing setting :)

"According to Gamasutra, executives in a conference call with investors first noted that the studio would be first be working on GTA IV downloadable content - exclusive to the Xbox 360 - available through until 2009. Take-Two also said that both the 360 and PS3 version of the game be visually almost identical, with the PS3 coming out slightly on top in some areas. "

".............And now you're able to go a lot more granularly and see the guys with their heads in their hands and see tears on peoples' faces. Things like that that just gives it this kind of power and have tons and tons of variations in the conversations and the physics to match."